A "Harp" Deferred...! Part 2

After looking around, I couldn't find any decent harps in the "dirt cheap" category...(surprise, surprise)! The least inexpensive harps I could find (other than a lap harp...and that was out of the question), were the Heather Harps, produced by "Mid East Manufacturers." However, I read many articles and blogs advising against these harps because they are poorly made, etc. I was not to be discouraged though, so I pressed on...

To my surprise, I ran across an article where someone recommended "Waring Harps." He said they are harp kits that you put together yourself. He went on to say, that for a homemade harp, these have a clear sound! That piqued my interest! In looking for a harp, you want one with a clear sound.

Although I don't consider myself an expert "Harp builder," after looking on the website, etc., I decided that this was the harp for me! I was excited! :o) I called Mr. Waring and talked to him in person. He was very nice. When inquiring about a case for the harp, I found out that he has custom-made cases for an additional amount. I did read where someone said, if you buy a harp such as this, you definitely want a case to protect it. Well, with 11 children, when I spend that much money, I would HAVE to have protection for it! Besides, having a case for any harp is a good idea even in ideal circumstances. 

I ended up having enough money to purchase the harp, a custom-made case and a "Sylvia Woods-Learning to Play the Folk Harp" book!  Mr. Waring also has a "learning to play the folk harp book" and it is a very good book, that I highly recommend.

Stay tuned, (pun intended) for my next blog installment where I will share the details about building and tuning my new harp!

A "Harp" Deferred... Part 1

Proverbs 13:12  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

A couple months ago, Don and I were at my brother and sister in law's. Don was telling them that years ago, as an adult, I took harp lessons. He went on to tell them how much I enjoyed playing the harp, how God worked it out for me to take the lessons in Kentucky, then again in Texas. He also told them that I've never had a harp of my own.

They asked why I never had my own harp and I told them because I could never afford at least a few thousand dollars to buy a basic harp! I told them that the harps I practiced on were Troubadour lever harps and huge concert harps! At that time, you could buy a new Troubadour lever harp for $2500, but now they're about $3500. And, of course concert harps are closer to $10,000 and more!

Then they asked how much a small harp would cost. I told them that I thought small folk harps can cost as little as $150. When we left their house that day, they handed me $200 and told me to buy a small harp and enjoy it! I couldn't believe it! Tears came to my eyes...it was such a blessing! At that moment, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "I want you to have a small harp to play and enjoy now. When you play it, be reminded that you will be able to have a larger harp someday." Wow...I felt extremely grateful, humble, undeserving and blessed...

A Day In the Life...Some Funny things

These events just happened...Hopefully, they will at least give you a little chuckle for your day! :o)

• Last night when I was working on the taxes, John yelled out "Mary's bum is hurting!" Then, Mary walked over to me, while pulling her pants down and exposing her "bum" said, "Will you kiss my bottom?" (She will ask me to kiss her "boo boo's" and then she will ask me, "Does it feel better, Mommy?" And, I'll say, "Yes, it feels all better now, Mary.")
• While riding in the car, Hannah, Faith and I were having a conversation about babies in the womb. We were talking about how the babies are formed in the uterus, when Hannah said, "I remember when Mary was born and the midwife talked about the plate feeding her." I said..."What???" She said "I remember about Mrs. Joyce telling me that they feed the baby with the plate!" I said, "She said they feed the feed the baby with a plate? What are you talking about? Oh! You mean the placenta! Not the plate! Yes, the baby is given oxygen and food through the placenta!" LOL! She had the right idea, just the wrong word. I do that ALL the time...like mother, like daughter!
• We are keeping our friend's dog "Freckles." Earlier today, Freckles sat down on our "Wiggles" play guitar and it sounded like the song was coming out of the dog's rear end! But, even funnier, the song that started playing was "Wags The Dog!" That was funny! He just sat there, while "Wags the Dog" was playing under his rear! LOL!

Movies that I will never Recommend

After sixteen years of producing TV content some people are astounded when they find out that I haven't seen most of the films that have captivated them and the rest of the world. Some of these folks are other media professionals, most are Christians and I usually just respond by saying, "no, I never saw..." Now, I would like to share why I have not felt compelled to see films that are touted as "masterpieces of film making." Simply stated, holiness trumps knowledge of the world.

Unfortunately the list of films that I have seen and regret seeing is much longer then it should be. Some of the films that I include in this list may surprise you. Films like the Passion of the Christ and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and Schindler's List as well as stinkers like Buckaroo Bonzai and pointless films like the adventures of Mary Kate and Ashley. Some will argue that since many people came to know Christ after watching Passion of the Christ and many others draw spiritual truth from the Lord of the Rings that they are good movies. God does use flawed people and movies to influence people but that does not justify the use of wrong methods.

My criteria is pretty simple: If the film has no redeeming value, I'm not interested. If the film resorts to the use of excessive violence, sex, or emotional manipulation, I'm not interested. If the filmmaker operates under the illusion that they must be super realistic in order to tell a good story, I'm not interested.

About 25 years ago I read the conclusions of Malcolm Muggeridge, a long time producer for the BBC. He basically said that movies and TV did more harm then good. He was right. There are a few people who have managed to use the medium to tell meaningful stories in a wholesome way. Recent productions that have given me hope are The Ultimate Gift and Butterfly Circus. Sadly, while visiting a friend's home recently they were selecting a movie to watch. I recommended that they consider these two options but my suggestion fell on deaf ears while they proceeded to watch a horror film. There happened to be one person who expressed interest in watching The Ultimate Gift. That person does not profess to have a relationship with Christ.

Some argue that since the Bible gives the gory details and juicy tidbits it is okay for us to portray such acts vividly. Desensitization to real human travail, sorrow, ecstasy, etc. is dangerous. I have watched a young child die, attended accident victims, and experienced numerous other extreme situations - they are not neat and tidy, they are rightfully difficult to deal with. I would not have willfully chosen to experience them but God directed me into them and His grace was with me.

When we willfully choose to expose ourselves to things that God hates, i.e. violence, lust provoking imagery, proud looks, and rude speaking, it is simply wrong. What can we say to defend our tolerance of such things "hey God, cut me some slack, I need to be entertained."

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about [and view] such things. - Philippians 4:8

3 seconds of fame

Check out our family Video debut in a short by Mark Ellis (Invincible, We are Marshal, The Rookie, etc.) and his talented production team: Click on this link to watch the video http://vimeo.com/12664260 Just don't blink or you will miss us (watch closely from 50-53 seconds). Don had an opportunity to shoot an interview with Mark Ellis last week and his one of his producers, Jessi Moore recognized Don and asked if he had seen the final extended cut of a commercial that they shot at TCU last year. He hadn't and she showed it to him. We wanted to share it with you.

Walk of Faith

Many of you know that our large family has been walking a walk of faith this past year...unlike anything we've ever walked through before. Even though the circumstances are not what we would've chosen for ourselves, God has taken care of us...in many miraculous ways. God does not ask us to go through something, then leave or forsake us. He asks us to go through a particular circumstance, then he takes care of us in the process. This doesn't mean it will be easy. Our circumstances have stretched us spiritually and emotionally in ways that we needed to be stretched, and God knew that. And, it hasn't always been easy; however, we have always felt God's presence and affirmation (His peace) in the midst of it. Below, is a devotional from "Streams in the Desert" that I read today and it explains perfectly what it means to go through trials in a Godly way.

Rest on the Word of God

"I trust in thy word" (Ps. 119:42).

Just in proportion in which we believe that God will do just what He has said, is our faith strong or weak. Faith has nothing to do with feelings, or with impressions, with improbabilities, or with outward appearances. If we desire to couple them with faith, then we are no longer resting on the Word of God because faith needs nothing of the kind. Faith rests on the naked Word of God. When we take Him at His Word, the heart is at peace.

God delights to exercise faith, first for blessing in our own souls, then for blessing in the Church at large, and also for those without. But this exercise we shrink from instead of welcoming. When trials come, we should say: "My Heavenly Father puts this cup of trial into my hands, that I may have something sweet afterwards."

Trials are the food of faith. Oh, let us leave ourselves in the hands of our Heavenly Father! It is the joy of His heart to do good to all His children.

But trials and difficulties are not the only means by which faith is exercised and thereby increased. There is the reading of the Scriptures, that we may by them acquaint ourselves with God as He has revealed Himself in His Word.

Are you able to say, from the acquaintance you have made with God, that He is a lovely Being? If not, let me affectionately entreat you to ask God to bring you to this, that you may admire His gentleness and kindness, that you may be able to say how good He is, and what a delight it is to the heart of God to do good to His children.

Now the nearer we come to this in our inmost souls, the more ready we are to leave ourselves in His hands, satisfied with all His dealings with us. And when trial comes, we shall say:

"I will wait and see what good God will do to me by it, assured He will do it." Thus we shall bear an honorable testimony before the world, and thus we shall strengthen the hands of others. --George Mueller.

And the Winner Is...

And the winner is...Liz Newsome!!! Congratulations Liz! Actually I forgot to post the winner of the contest a couple of weeks ago...my mistake. Liz told me she and her family went to Disney on Ice with the free tickets and had a great time!